Bobbin support



Nov. 24, 195g H. P. sTAuFERT BoBBrN SUPPORT Filed oct. 22. 1953 United States Patent O BOBBIN SUPPORT Helmut P. Staufert, Stuttgart, Germany Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,628

Claims priority, application Germany October 31, 1952 Claims. (Cl. 242-1302) The present invention relates to bobbin supports for roving bobbins and sleeves as they are used for instance in spinning machines, especially in connection with speed frames, spinning frames and twisting frames.

It is known in connection with textile machines such as preparing machines, spinning machines and twisting machines, to suspend the bobbins on the creels of such machines. Thus, bobbin assemblies have been provided arranged on the creels so as to be freely rotatable and to be tiltable by a small angle. Such bobbin assemblies or bearing assemblies primarily comprise a stud which is fastened to the creel and which has pivotally connected thereto a member for engagement with the bobbin bore so as to make possible a coupling or connection of said member and thus of the bobbin support with the bobbin or bobbin sleeve. According to one known embodiment, said member which represents a coupling element cornprises resilient expanders adapted to engage the wall of the bobbin or sleeve bore under spring pressure and to hold and carry along the bobbin by mere friction. According to another embodiment said coupling member is provided with expanders which catch over peripheral protruding portions or circumferential grooves in the bobbin or bobbin sleeve bore in order in this way to bring about a satisfactory connection between the bearing assembly for the bobbin and the bobbin proper.

Aside from the fact that a mere point or linear frictional connection between the coupling member and the bobbin is with higher weights of yarn and with stronger oscillations of the machine, unsatisfactory in order to assure that the bobbin will under no circumstances accidentally detach itself from the coupling member, all heretofore known bobbin suspension devices have the drawback that the removal of the bobbins from the bobbin supports can be effected by applying the same amount of force as is necessary to slip the bobbins on the bobbin supports or bobbin holders. A further drawback of the heretofore known bobbin suspension arrangements consists in that the coupling members are rigid in themselves and therefore cannot be tilted beyond the angle determined by the possible angular displacement of the swivel connection of the coupling member. This is particularly disadvantageous in connection with long bobbins or sleeves and in connection with low creels which require a considerable tilting possibility of the bobbins in order to allow an easy and fast slipping on of the bobbins without affecting a safe engagement by the coupling member. ln other words` the heretofore known bobbin suspension arrangements are not flexible enough in order to meet all requirements with regard to a safe holding and great tilting possibility of the slip-on bobbin or bobbin sleeve.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a bobbin support which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bobbin support for use in connection with speed frames, spinning frames, twisting frames and the like which while 2,914,271 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ICC allowing the bobbin to be suspended also permit the tilting of the bobbin in suspended position by an angle which was heretofore impossible.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a bobbin support of the type set forth in the preceding paragraph which will offer a greater resistance to any accidental removal of the bobbin from the bobbin support than to the slipping on of the bobbin to the bobbin support, while still allowing an easy intentional removal of the bobbin from the bobbin support.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l illustrates a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a bobbin support according to the present invention.

Fig. 2. is a longitudinal section through another ernbodiment of a bobbin support according to the present invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the bobbin support according to the invention during the slipping on of a bobbin.

Fig. 5 shows the bobbin support of the present invention while a bobbin is being withdrawn from the bobbin support.

Fig. 6 is a view of a modified coupling element for use in connection with the bobbin support of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view of a modied coupling element for use in connection with the bobbin support of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of a bobbin support of the present invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates partly in view and partly in section a bobbin holder according to the invention connected to the creel by means of a bayonet joint.

General arrangement The primary feature of the present invention consists in that the coupling engagement between the bobbin support and the bobbin is effected by at least one coupling member designed so as to be able to be bent out of its axis. Such a coupling member may consist for instance of a plug-like element of elastic material mounted on a suspended and preferably rotatable and tiltable bearing stud. However, the coupling member may also according to another embodiment of the invention consist of a liner of elastic material which is mounted in the bore of the bobbin and which is engaged by the suspended, preferably rotatable and tiltable bearing stud.

ln order to assure an effective surface friction between the coupling member and the bobbin or sleeve, the coupling parts consisting of elastic material may have their circumference subdivided by discs or flanges. `Said discs or flanges may have different outer diameters to accommodate different bores or tolerances of bores. Furthermore, the coupling friction may be influenced by varying the thickness of the various discs or flanges. If desired said discs or flanges may also have slits at the circumference thereof. Preferably the dics or flanges have such a cross-section that when the bobbin is slipped onto said discs or flanges they may deflect from a radial into an axial position without contacting each other.

It is furthermore advantageous to shape the coupling members of elastic material so that they will have the outer contour of a cone.

lf the coupling member is designedn as a plug, it is advantageous to design the lower end so that together with the lowermost disc or flange it will have a convex cross-section. Such design considerably facilitates the introduction of the coupling member into the bobbin bore. Also the upper end of the coupling member may be 0f convex shape in order to assure a safe slipping on of the bobbin even if the slipping on operation is not effected in axial direction.

According to` a further development of the invention, the plug-like coupling member is provided with a central opening for receiving a stud provided with a rotary surface which stud is rotatably and tiltably journalled in the bearing stud. The bearing stud may preferably be designed as screw bolt the hollow head of which surrounds the bearing for the coupling stud. The bearing stud may, however, also consist merely of a bearing sleeve into which the coupling stud is inserted from the top and which may be closed by means of a cover. A plurality of bearing sleeves arranged in one line may be covered by a cover common to all of them. The coupling stud may at least partly consist of elastic material and may form an entity with the coupling member. However, it may also be detachable from the coupling member.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawing in detail, and Fig. 1 thereof in particular, the reference numeral 1 designates a creel of a textile machine such as a preparing, tine spinning or twisting machine or any other yarn support. Connected to the creel 1 is a bearing stud or bolt 2 rotatably and tiltably supporting a stud 4 which in its turn carries the coupling member 3. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the bearing stud 2 comprises a threaded bolt section with a hollow hexagon head 5. Arranged in the interior of the hexagon head 5 is a cap 6 with a ball bearing ring 8 carrying the lensshaped head 7 of the coupling stud 4.

The coupling member 3 consists of elastic flexible material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or elastic synthetic material or synthetic resin. As will be clear from the drawing, the coupling member 3 has an axial bore receiving the end of the coupling stud 4 which may be connected thereto in any desired manner for instance by self-locking or by vulcanizing, glueing or the like.

The outer surface of the coupling member 3 is provided with plate-shaped discs or flanges 9, 9', 9". The diameter thickness and cross-sectional shape and relative distance of said discs or flanges are so dimensioned that a bobbin or sleeve 10 slipped from below onto the coupling member (Figs. 3 and 4) will be held fast with such surface friction that the slipping on is easily effected whereas the removal requires greater force if the bobbin is being withdrawn in axial and downward direction. To this end, the discs or llanges have their diameters preferably stepped so that the lowermost disc or flange 9" has the smallest diameter and the uppermost disc or flange 9 has the greatest diameter. Furthermore, the discs or flanges are preferably tapered in downward direction so that they will easily rest against the plug-like core 3 when the bobbin 16 is slipped on from below. In this way a kind of packing or obturation of the discs or flanges is obtained which, in view of the high surface friction, will offer a great resistance when the bobbin is withdrawn in axial direction. the bobbin for instance in view of a high weight of the yarn or in view of strong oscillations of the machine is thus made impossible. On the other hand, of course, any intentional withdrawal of the bobbin must be easily effected. This is made possible by the flexibility of the coupling member as will be explained further below yin connection with Fig. 5.

According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the head 11 of the coupling stud 12 has a spherical bearing surface supported by a ball bearing ring 13 which latter rests in a cap 14 countersunk into the creel 1. This cap 14 may be closed either by a covering cap 15 pressed into the cap 14 or by a plate 16 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When using a plate 16, one plate may simultaneously cover a number of adjacently arranged caps 14. -The -cap `14 and the creel lare provided with bores An accidental loosening ot'l 17 and 18 which are sutllciently wide in order to allow a sufficient tilting angle of the stud 12. According to Fig. 2 the stud 12 is connected to the coupling member 3a by means of a thread 19 and a nut 20.

In order to make sure that a bobbin which is slipped on at an angle with regard to the coupling member 3a will be axially located thereon and not at an angle thereto, the coupling member is provided with a convex surface 21. If the bobbin 10 is slipped onto the coupling member 3a at an angle with regard to the axis of the stud 12 (Fig. 3), this coupling member after its upper surface 21 has contacted the creel 1 (Fig. 4) will automatically tilt into the axis of the bobbin lll so that the latter may axially be slipped onto the coupling member 3a and will be held fast thereon by means of the obturating discs or flanges 9', 9".

The withdrawal of the bobbin in axial direction of the stud 4 or 12 is more difllcult than the slipping on of the bobbin in view of the barbed hook-like effect of the discs or flanges 9', 9". This is desirable when high bobbin weights are involved and for guarding against loosening tendencies due to oscillations of the machine. However, any intentional withdrawal of the bobbins must be easily possible in order not to cause any fatigue of the operators. This easy withdrawal is made possible by the flexibility of the coupling member 3, 3a which coupling member allows to bend the axis of said coupling member out of the tilting axis of the stud 4, 12 (Fig. 5). While the bobbin 10 acts so to speak as a lever upon the coupling member 3, 3a, the discs or flanges 9', 9 will when tilting the bobbin be inverted in the manner shown in the drawing so that the bobbin can easily be withdrawn from the coupling member 3, 3a. The flexibility of the coupling member 3, 3a in the manner just described has the further desired result that the tilting angle of the coupling stud 4, 12, which is limited by itself can be considerably increased to an angle as shown in Fig. 5. This is of particular advantage in connection with long bobbins and relatively low creels, because the bobbins can without difhculties be slipped on at a considerable angle and can be removed at the same angle. Such operation is impossible with rigid coupling members as used in heretofore known bobbin supporting assemblies.

The flexible coupling member according to the invention may be designed in conformity with the respective design of the bobbins to be suspended and the bore of such bobbins. Thus, Fig. 6 shows a coupling member which has a cone-shaped inner profile 22 and a corresponding cone-shaped outer profile, whereas according to Fig. 7, the inner profile of the coupling member illustrated therein has a cylindrical shape while the flanged outer profile is cylindrical but stepped. in this particular instance the flanges 24 and 25 are provided with slits or grooves 26, 27 respectively which extend parallel or at an angle with regard to the axis of the plug and have the purpose on one hand of making the flanges more yieldable while on the other hand making it possible to remove any lap, which might have accumulated on the coupling member, for instance by means of a hook, knife or other suitable instruments.

In some instances it will also be advantageous to make the coupling stud, which connects the bearing stud with the elastic coupling member, at least partially flexible. This may be effected for instance in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. As will be seen from Fig. 8, the plug 28 provided with the flanges 23a has its upper surface provided with a hollow extension 29 into which a bearing member 30 is firmly fitted in. With such an arrangement the bobbin support obtains a flexibility which allows the tilting of the bobbin support by more than out of the supporting axis.

If desired, the bobbin may be permanently provided with a plug of the type shown in Figs. l, 2, 6 or 7. In. such an instance, the coupling stud 4 will, as diagram-` matically and by way of example indicated in Fig. 1,

be subdivided and will be provided at 34 with connecting means for instance a bayonet joint as shown in Fig. 9. 'In this figure the creel is designated with the numeral 1a and is provided with a bore 40 through which extends a pin `41. The bobbin holder 42 which has about the outer contour of the bobbin holder shown in Fig. 3 with the exception of the spherical portion 2, has its upper end provided with a neck 43 which in its turn has a bayonet slot 44 for engagement with the pin 41. This bobbin holder is likewise flexible in such a way that the lower end of the bobbin holder can be bent considerably in the direction toward the upper end thereof.

1It may be stated that the coupling studs 4, 12 need not in all instances be rotatable and tiltable but may also be rigidly connected to a bobbin support, bobbin rail or the like. lIn such an instance the elasticity of the coupling member alone will allow the tilting of the bobbin out of its normal suspension axis.

llt is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions and designs illustrated in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A bobbin holder comprising a iexible and elastic bobbin-receiving portion of cone-shaped contour tapering toward the lower end thereof and being bendable along its longitudinal axis, said bobbin-receiving portion including a plurality of relatively wide ilexible elastic anges spaced from each other in longitudinal direction of said bobbin-receiving portion, the bottom side of at least one of said flanges tapering downwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said bobbin-receiving portion, and means provided at the upper portion of said bobbin-receiving portion for suspending said bobbin holder on a supporting member.

2. A bobbin holder comprising a llexible and elastic bobbin-receiving portion including a stem portion bendable along its longitudinal axis and also including a plurality of relatively wide ilexible fin-like anges spaced from each other in longitudinal direction of said stem portion and having a bottom portion tapering downwardly toward said stem portion and merging therewith, said flanges respectively decreasing in diameter in the downward direction of said bobbin-receiving portion, the lower part of said stem portion having a smaller diameter than the uper part thereof, and means provided at the upper end of said bobbin-receiving portion for suspending said bobbin holder on a supporting member, the lower portion of said bobbin-receiving portion being bendable to a considerable extent in the direction toward the upper end portion of said bobbin-receiving portion.

3. A bobbin holder comprising a llexible and elastic bobbin-receiving portion including a stem portion bendable along its longitudinal axis and also including a plurality of relatively wide iin-like flexible elastic ilanges spaced from each other in longitudinal direction of said stem portion and having a frustrated cone-shaped cross section with the cone tapering toward said stem portion in the direction toward the bottom end of said bobbin-receiving portion, said flanges being integral with said stem portion and decreasing in thickness in the direction toward the bottom portion of said bobbin-receiving portion, said anges respectively decreasing in diameter from the upper end toward the lower end of said bobbin-receiving portion, and means provided at the upper end of said bobbinreceiving portion for suspending said bobbin holder on a supporting member, the lower portion of said bobbinreceiving portion being bendable to a considerable extent in the direction toward the upper end portion of said bobbin-receiving portion.

4. A bobbin holder according to claim l, in which the means at the upper portion of the bobbin-receiving portion for suspending the bobbin holder consist of a shank-like body having a reduced diameter with regard to the maximum diameter of said bobbin holder and being firmly connected thereto.

5. A bobbin holder according to claim l, in which the means provided at the upper portion of said bobbin-receiving portion for suspending the bobbin holder is a separate body inserted into the upper portion only of said bobbin-receiving portion and is connected thereto.

6. A coupling member for connecting a bobbin with a suspension member on a creel, said coupling member comprising a flexible elastic stem of rubber material provided with a plurality of flexible elastic relatively wide flanges spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said stem and being of the same material as and integral with said stem, said anges respectively increasing in diameter from the lower to the upper portion of said stem and having their bottom surfaces tapered in the direction toward the lower end of said stem and integral therewith, the lower portion of said stem being bendable in the direction toward the upper portion of said stem to such an extent that said two stent portions form a distinct obtuse angle with each other.

7. A coupling member according to claim 6, in which the upper surfaces of said flanges are substantially plane annular surfaces.

8. A coupling member according to claim 6, in which the uppermost flange has an upwardly protruding spherical surface portion.

9. A bobbin holder according `to claim l, in which at least some of said ilanges are provided with cutouts at the peripheral portion thereof.

l0. A bobbin holder according to claim l, in which the means provided at the upper portion of the bobbinreceiving portion for suspending the bobbin holder includes a bayonet joint for connecting the bobbin holder to a supporting member.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,306,256 Holt et al. June l0, 1919 2,066,659 Templeton et al Jan. 5, 1937 2,445,542 StoZinski July 20, 1948 2,445,849 Garey July 27, 1948 2,556,684 DeSantis June 12, 1951 2,648,501 Novotny Aug. 11, 1953 2,669,370 Royall Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 962,320 France Dec. 5, 1949 25,953 France July 18, 1923 819,661 Germany Nov. 5, 1951 843,517 Germany July 10, 1952 

